Rain drizzled on the city. The bus stop wasn't much crowded. She tapped her foot on the ground almost as if to match the rhythm of the falling rain. She wore a white chiffon frock with a golden metal belt; it was odd for a cold evening, such as that day. Water had accumulated in puddles alongside the road. She watched as tiny droplets fell in, dissolving themselves in it. The convenience store across the street had customers barging in for a hot cup of ramen. She had her eyes fixed on the young woman making her way through the crowd outside the store and into the rain. She held up her bag above her head and ran to the side alley, disappearing into a silhouette soon.

"Yes, don't worry; I have tried to look my best"

"Yes I know it's my first time on a date"

"I know I am 30, you don't need to keep reminding me of it"

A handsome definitely-not-30 looking young man stood beside her talking on the phone, under the roof of the bus stop. He was neatly dressed, his shoes could use some polishing on the sides, but on a rainy day, it was a given. The lack of an umbrella was worrying though since every channel predicted a heavy rain that day. She ran her hand through her hair, moving a lock of hair behind her ear, as she looked back ahead again.

A speeding car passed in front of them, almost instantly, she pulled out the umbrella, holding it ahead. A muddy splash of water propelled into the air, drenching the silk laces at the bottom of her dress in a good shade of brown dirt. The man looked beside him at the seemingly normal but weird woman that just ruined her dress to save his. He looked at her, perplexed, for a good minute.

"Are you okay?" he asked as he offered her a handkerchief which she accepted instantly. She wiped off the mud from her dress but the colour remained. She didn't seem bothered by it and folded the umbrella. She looked beside her at the man now visibly having guilt and sympathy all over his face. "Ah, I did it only because you said you had to be on a date. Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop?" she smiled as she wiped her hands with the handkerchief. "Oh no, it is fine" he smiled. She got up from the bench, as the bus pulled up. "I got to go. Good luck with the date" she said smiling, as she got onto the bus and sat down.

"Thanks" he replied as he watched the bus leave.

****

"What do you mean; I can't go in like this? I have a reservation", she spoke to the receptionist who had stopped listening two minutes ago. "Just what I had thought", she whispered as she smiled. She headed back to the bus stop nearby. She tapped the tip of the umbrella on the concrete steps. She then lifted her bag, grabbing her phone and dialling a number.

"Ah, Soph, I showed up but looks like my outfit doesn't make the cut. How expensive was this place anyway? You didn't have to go such great lengths to get me laid, you know" she hung up and looked at the ground as she cackled.

"Looks like you had a great day" a tired husky voice interrupted. She looked up, "Oh, 30-year-old vir-" she stopped midway realizing her mistake. His tie had been loosened up and his suit was now drenched in the rain.

"How did your date go?" she asked, at the man whose confidence seemed to have been wiped off his face.

"Pretty good" he gave a plain smile.

The two people at the bus station suddenly got up, leaving in the opposite direction.

"Excuse me, did something happen?" she asked the old lady who had just gotten up to leave.

"The bus won't come today. There has been a major accident along the bridge. I heard it would take hours at the least" she said as she grabbed her bag and walked off. The rain started pouring, the lights from the buildings on the opposite side glimmered in the water on the road. It was like a view from a hazy window at a sky high apartment. She smiled as she took the umbrella and took a step ahead. She stopped before taking another step and turned around. It felt like abandoning a puppy in the rain.

"Is this, what people call fate" she spoke after a while.

The road got narrower and the rain got lighter. She hunched her shoulders to fit under the umbrella. He walked a feet behind her careful not to let their shoulders touch as they walked.

"Fate?" he asked cat-walking under the umbrella. "Was your date at The Moonlight?" she asked, a small smile spreading across her face.

"How did you-" he stopped instantly realizing what just happened.

"Did I get stood up..." he stopped in his tracks. She stopped a step ahead and turned back. "...by you?" he resumed, his eyes widened.

She laughed. The rain dripped from his hair and drooped down to the side of his cheeks. "Well not exactly", she said smiling.

"Was it because I said I was 30 or because it was my first-", she hissed as she walked a step closer, "I didn't know when we first met. I realized when you showed up at the bus stop near the restaurant", he looked at her for a while.

"This is why I hate blind dates", "Same here" she resonated. They paused for a while and smiled awkwardly.

"Well, I did dirty my dress purposely so they wouldn't allow me in"

"Oh so you didn't stand me up, you were just unable to go in", he smiled proudly. She nodded. He stopped at once, "..but you didn't do it to save my dress?"

"Hmm hmm," she hummed as she walked ahead.

"Okay then", he said as he ran to catch up and stopped a step behind her, "...since this won't be a blind date anymore, why don't you go on a date with me tomorrow?" She nodded; they laughed and got together under the umbrella again, starting to walk along the narrow path lined by green trees. The leaves shone in a faint white light, a glimmer in a narrow road of darkness.